Geneva show: Skoda outs Kodiaq Sportline and Scout

SKODA has revealed two new variants of its yet-to-be-released Kodiaq crossover in the form of the rugged Scout and visually enhanced Sportline, the latter confirmed for an Australian debut sometime after the initial large SUV local launch.

With the Kodiaq due to arrive in Skoda showrooms in the third quarter of this year, the Sportline variant is expected to land in early 2018, but the Scout version still remains unclear, according to Skoda Australia general manager of corporate communications Paul Pottinger.

“(We’ll be getting) the Sportline absolutely, and we’re looking at the Scout for certain,” he said.

“We’re interested in all variants of the Kodiaq, bearing in mind in Australia we’ll be sticking to all-wheel-drive and seven seaters.”Of the pair – set to be introduced at the Geneva motor show in March – the Sportline features more aggressive visual tweaks including black radiator grille, roof rails, wing mirror housings and side window trims and tinted rear and second-seat side windows, but eschews any changes to performance.

It also gets body-coloured side trims, a badge on the front wing bearing its model designation and specifically designed 19-inch alloy wheels with 20-inch rims as an option.

On the inside, the Sportline gets Alcantara seats and inserts with silver stitching and electronic adjustment and memory function for the driver, leather steering wheel and gearstick, aluminium pedals, folding side mirrors, ten-colour LED ambient lighting, as well as a multifunction display which shows G-forces, turbo pressure, oil and coolant temperature, and current engine output levels.

Driving mode select comes as standard, which lets driver choose between normal, sport, eco, individual, comfort and snow mode, while adaptive dynamic chassis control is available as an option, which can set the dampers to comfort, normal and sport mode.

Meanwhile, the Scout focuses on giving the Kodiaq a more rugged look with silver-finished front and rear diffusers, black side-body trims and 19-inch alloy wheels.

It shares the tinted rear and second-row side windows with the Sportline, and replaces the black trim on the radiator grille, roof rails, wing mirrors and side windows with silver.

Its all-terrain capabilities are boosted by a rough-road package with underbody and engine protection, electronic diff lock, hill-hold and hill-descent control, and overall 194mm ground clearance, while other features include front and rear park assist, driving mode select, ambient LED interior lighting, Alcantara seats and trim, and steel pedals.

The Kodiaq will launch in Australia with a single variant, the 2.0-litre petrol-powered 132TSI version which is expected to be followed by a 140kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel variant before the year is out.

It is likely the Sportline and Scout will be offered with the choice of both powertrains when they arrive in Australia.

More information on the Kodiaq variants will be revealed at the car’s launch at Geneva on March 7.